Politics & Government

New City Solicitor Gone, Faces Wrongful Death Suit Tied to Synthetic Marijuana Industry

Jeannine Malone was appointed by the City of Sandy Springs on Dec. 3rd. Her husband will be sentenced on federal drug trafficking charges, in August. Next week, Jeannine is expected to be named in a wrongful death suit related to a teen suicide.

 

On Wednesday, Jeannine Malone was let go from her position as Assistant Solicitor for the Municipal Court for the City of Sandy Springs. She was sworn in on Dec 3rd.

“We became aware that she was having personal problems and decided it was in the best interests of the city to withdraw her appointment,” said Bill Riley, an attorney for the City of Sandy Springs.

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Malone’s husband Thomas W. Malone, Jr. has been embroiled in a federal drug trafficking case tied to the synthetic marijuana industry. He pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in the fall.

See the Sandy Springs connection below and the attached copy of the federal indictment.

Jeannine Malone is expected to be named in a wrongful death suit, next week, for alleged ties to an Alpharetta company, NutraGenomics, that authorities say provided a compound for synthetic marijuana. Attorneys for Lance Dyer, of Breman, Ga., are filing the suit. His 14-year-old son, Dakota Blaze Dyer committed suicide on March 10, 2012 after taking a synthetic drug known on the street as “Mr. Miyagi.” 

Find out what's happening in Sandy Springswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Click here: Feds Factor Teen's Suicide Into Drug Trafficking Case of Ex-Solictor's Husband.

Dyer said his son gave in to peer pressure when he took the drug and believes Dakota had a psychotic break when he shot himself on that Saturday morning.

Dyer has been steadfast in bringing awareness to the synthetic marijuana industry and the federal case against Thomas Malone, Jr. and nine other defendants. According to the indictment, a cartel stretched from California to Lafayette, La. to NutraGenomics in Alpharetta. NutraGenomics was operated by Roswell residents Thomas Malone, Jr. and Drew T. Green, who distributed the synthetic cannabinoids used to make “Mr. Miyagi.”

“We saw that [Jeannine Malone] was the registering agent for four companies that are registered as the same address as NutraGenomics,” Dyer said. “She should know of her husband’s actions.”

[The Georgia Secretary of State website reveals several entities showing Jeannine Malone as the registered agent. So far Patch has not matched the addresses to NutraGenomics.]

Dyer questioned why the City of Sandy Springs would appoint her as its solicitor. “My concern with Ms. Malone is she is an officer of the court and in a position to influence drug cases at a city level, yet she is married to a convicted felon. That should concern the taxpayer,” Dyer said.

Jeannine Malone was contracted with the city through Riley McClendon law fim. Bill Riley said the firm and city officials were unaware of her personal problems until she brought it to their attention last week. On Tuesday, a decision was made to withdraw her appointment, said Riley.

A twist in Sandy Springs

A recent 11Alive report found that Thomas Malone, Jr. and Drew T. Green are behind a non-profit for recovering addicts located on Colquitt Road. The Pam Green Foundation is named after Drew T. Green’s mother, the report said.

According to the 11Alive report, the facility was recently cited for zoning violations.

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